"Thank you, papa" Meera thanked, as she stepped down from the scooter.
"Are you going to be okay?" Her father asked.
Taking a glimpse at the company she looked back and gave him an assured nod.
"Be careful okay?"
With a smile She 'hmmed' confirming that she was going to be okay, he zoomed off, leaving Meera gazing at him.
After losing his sight, she looks back at the company and sighs, her grip tightening on her college bag.
C'mon Meera, you can do this!
You just have to be brave, for one month and you will be out...
Just....one month
Slightly shaking her head, she heads towards the building.
"Hold up Miss, who are you and who do you seek?" A security stopped after stepping up the stairs
"Oh, um. My name is Meera. I'm from Elite Coles University and I am here to interview Mr Siddhartha Madhav" She declared and pulled out her school ID and also passed him the school-permitted slip.
The security thoroughly checks. After finding her clean, he opens the massive Transparent glass door for her to step in.
"Welcome to A.M Empire, ma'am" he passes her credentials back to her.
"Go to the reception and you will be directed" he instructed and she smiled after thanking him.
Immediately when she stepped in, she gazed at the premises in astonishment.
'Wow, the interior here is Amazing, and all look unique' she speculated
Few staff, moving here and there. Some passed her a curious gaze and she avoided them.
'Concentrate, Meera!' She scolded.
She looked ahead and spotted a woman sitting just behind an L-shaped booth and her focus was on the computer before her. The label with the word "Reception" was boldly hanging from a board above her.
She headed towards her, just like the security said to ask for directions.
"Hello Miss, my name is-"
"Meera, I know. Mr Madhav let me know you will be here today" the receptionist stated and shifted her gaze from the laptop before her to the stunned Meera.
'Does he know my name already?' She wondered.
"You are the one here to interview, right? One of those cheap girls from that school again" Her tune was firm yet it had that mockery in it.
Meera furrowed her brows, not in anger but in annoyance.
Taking a good look at the Receptionist, seems to be in her early 30s and the makeup she's using does not help cover the wrinkle she is trying to hide.
Not even the worst case, she also seems to be using the wrong shade for her skin, her lip is too red and the neat bun she neatly did on her hair makes it look like it is pulling all the living cells into place. The bun is too tight.
'Too much gel?'
"I believe you are not referring to me as cheap, Aunty" Meera firmly said and the receptionist arched an eyebrow.
"Isn't it true? I mean one of your students won't stop bitching herself wh-"
"I respect elders, Aunty. But please don't let me forget the home training I was taught. I'm here to interview only, not waste it on a low mentally Judgmental old lady" Meera said as nicely as she did with a smile.
"Did you just insult me?"
"Oh no, I will never do that. Like I said, I respect eld-"
"I AM NOT OLD" She lashed out and her outburst pulled some moving staff's attention towards them.
"I never called you that. Now will you show me to where Mr. Siddhartha Madhav's office at, or are you enjoying the attention?" Meera passed her a challenging stare
Blushing in embarrassment, she groaned and stepped out of her booth.
"Follow me" She growled and Meera almost rolled her eyes.
'Crazy old woman'
They both stepped out of the elevator and headed towards a door.
'TARA' was boldly written on the silver plate, Ariel font, sealed to the door.
The receptionist open the door and there a young lady was typing on a computer, few files occupying most of her desk space.
She heard her door opened which pulled the young lady's attention and she gazed up, meeting with Meera and the receptionist with a scowled frown.
"Maya, do-"
"This is Meera and the important guest Mr Siddhartha Madhav is expecting" she rudely uttered passing a glare to Meera.
The young lady just nodded.
"Thank you so much...Aunty" Meera smiled and she earned a growl from Maya.
She walked away mumbling insolent words.
"Never surprise, she is making a new enemy every day" the young lady stated with a sigh
"What do you mean?" Meera's curiosity asked.
The young lady glimpsed at Meera then chuckled and shook her head.
"It's nothing. Follow me, Miss Meera" She got up from her seat and picked up a blue file and headed towards a hallway, with Meera behind her.
.
.
.
"Alright then, I will talk to Bhai and let you know the finalizing process, is that okay with you?" Siddhartha said, to the person he was on a call with.
Immediately the person agreed to it and Siddhartha dropped the call, he heard a knock
"Mr Madhav? Can I come in?" He heard his assistant asked
Massaging his temple, he relaxed on his chair and replied
"Come in"
The young lady stepped in and opened the door widely for the nervous Meera.
"Come in Miss Meera"
Meera, with her heart beating fast, she stepped in.
Tara moved towards Siddhartha Madhav and place the blue file on his table.
"This is the file, sir. I will forward the schedule for tomorrow via email. Mr Goyal Called to have an appointment with you later today, your schedule looks less occupied today. Should I squeeze in the meeting? Or adjourn it?" Tara stated.
"Thank you, I will get back to you for that. Just remind me later" he instructed, then his gaze fell on Meera nervously standing far behind, clenching her bag.
"Meera? From the college right?" He averted his attention to her and she gingerly nodded.
"Good day, Mr Siddhartha" she greeted and he stood up straight.
"Tara, get me to coffee. You know my usual, and as for Miss Meera?" He asked facing Meera.
Getting the idea he was asking her what she wanted, she stuttered.
"Um-um..I'm not a fan of coffee" she smiled sheepishly, politely declining.
"Soda? Lemonade? Tea? It mustn't have to be coffee" he replied gently with a smile.
"I guess, Lemonade is fine, thank you"
"Get us that, Tara" he instructed, the young lady, named Tara bowed a little and excused herself. Leaving Siddhartha and Meera.
"Take your seat, Miss Meera" He offered as he also sat down on his chair.
"Mr Madhav-" she began
"Siddhartha"
"Sorry?"
"Call me Siddhartha," he said and Meera furrowed in confusion.
"I-I am sorry, but I can't call you that" she softly spoke, being careful with her words not to anger one of the Madhav Family.
They are all mafias after all and despite her composure of calmness, Meera is scared. Ever since she stepped into the company.
"And why not?" It was Siddhartha's turn to furrow his brows
"Um, well you are a Businessman and I'm here to interview you, so keeping it professional and respectful is the goal. And I can't also call you that because I believe it's respectful and the right thing to do"
"I clearly understand your point, Meera. And I have 4 things to say" Siddhartha smirked and she gulped in fear.
"O-okay?"
"Firstly, you are going to call me Siddhartha, not Madhav. Because I'm not old yet and that's my father's name. Secondly, you are here to interview me but we are not keeping this strict on Boss and employee. It's more like building a relationship to know more about the person, I believe an intelligent woman like you should know that..."
'What on earth does he mean by that?' She was puzzled
"...Thirdly, can you stop being uptight? You don't look comfortable and you look stiff. I'm not going to hurt you, Meera, it's just an interview. And lastly, to make this work, we have to become friends"
Meera gasped and was about to say. Just then, Tara came in with the beverage and lemonade on a tray. Placing it neatly next to the respective owners and left the office, but right after Meera thanked her.
"You can ask" Siddhartha urged
"Why do I have to become friends with you?" She asked keeping her irritating at bay, again not to anger one of the Madhav.
"Meera? I can tell from afar that you are scared. It's written all over your body language, I need to be friends so you can open up and conversate more"
"But I don't want to be friends with you" she whispered but Siddhartha heard and for some reason felt hurt.
"Are you scared of me?" He asked sternly and she gulped
"The truth, Meera. Are you?" He asked again and she nodded
He sighs
"Why?" He asked
"The rumors of your family in mafia" she blunted out and Siddhartha finally clicked it together and he bursted out in laughter.
'Huh? What's so funny? Why is he laughing?' She wanted to ask but kept it to herself, watching the grown man laughing his mind out.
"Oh my God! You are my favorite girl now meera, ah!" He died down his laugh and grinned at Meera, which she found creepy.
"Listen, I understand you are scared because of the title that runs in our family. But I'm not into mafia Meera, if that can ease your mind" she softly smiled.
Meera, still not convinced cast her gaze down her laps
'Not into mafia? Does he think am stupid? Or the news is wrong?'
'But Jiya did say something about Siddhartha Madhav not being in the mafia'
'No, I don't believe. Even if he is not into mafia, he came from a family of one and I can't be friends with someone like that' she speculated and looked up to see Siddhartha smiling at her.
"Still battling with your thoughts?" He chuckled and Meera fumed in annoyance.
"Mr Mad-"
"Call me that again and I will cut the interview" he sternly stated. His smiling face vanished in a split second.
"What? You can cut the interview?" She gasped
"Yes I will, and it's not a good thing. Cutting the interview from me will lead to bad recordings. Just like what happened to the girl last year. You fail and the School gives you a penalty for not completing the task and the bad rating coming from our company. It will affect your academic performance so badly and mostly your group and you won't be able to secure an internship or a real entry-level job, you want that?"
Meera's jaw dropped as she listened. And then she remembered the Dean explaining that too in the hall, she wasn't paying much attention to it.
'Oh no'
"N-no. I don't" she meekly said
"Good, so call me Siddhartha, and let's stick it to the friends level, okay? I promise, I only want to make it easy for you and I am not a mafia, keep your mind and head at ease. Okay?"
'It's just for a month Meera' she reminded herself and sigh out.
"Okay S-Siddhartha" she forced a smile.
"Nice try. You look weird when you force a smile" he laughed and Meera was surprised.
'How does he do that? Am I that easy to read?'
"A little, but with the little time I've spent with you, you don't know how to hide your irked emotions" he laughed and Meera smiled sheepishly, realizing she voiced her thoughts loud.
"Good. So let's talk on your schedule" he stated taking a sip from his coffee.
"Um, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays?" She asked.
"That's okay, I want you to give me the time that you find very convenient. Okay? We will work on your time"
Meera smiled at how thoughtful he was.
"Well, I'm always less busy on these days. I get less busy by then and time, from 4. I leave college by 2 and work for 3 hours. But I will talk to the my boss and tell her about my cutting" Meera reasoned
Siddhartha was staring at her as she explained her schedule and found out how tight it was yet squeezing in another one will be draining for her.
"You can come here by 5 pm Meera, no need to tell the librarian any excuse of some cut," Siddhartha said and she blinked her eyes multiple times.
"What? Won't it be late? I mean-"
"Like I said, we will work according to your schedule. You seem to be a hardworking lady, I admire that. So, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, By 5 pm and that's final" he finalized and Meera couldn't be happier.
It's like, he understands her and not trying to make her feel uncomfortable. She was grateful and she smiled.
This time her genuine smile, making her cute dimples to pop out.
"Wow, yeah I did it. You finally smiled" he laughed a bit and her face heated up in embarrassment.
"So, this concludes that we are friends now. Right?" He forwards his hands out gesturing a handshake.
Meera hesitated at first.
'Just a month' then assured herself again and took his hand.
.
.
.
.
.
"...and then what happened?" Jiya's exciting voice was heard from the other side of Meera's phone
In her room, sitting in the study area, a few opened books. She was trying to finish up an assignment and read afterward. But Jiya's call, distracted her and her best friend kept on bugging her to spill all that happened at the A.M Empire.
And here Meera is, narrating all that happens and dealing with a squealing best friend, getting her phone far away from her ear whenever Jiya squeals.
Meera's younger sister was also present, but she was lying on her bed reading a novel.
"Oh my God, was he hot? What am I even saying? OF COURSE HE IS" She squeals again and Meera groaned
Come to think of it, she just realized how handsome Siddhartha is, she wasn't paying much attention before because of the tension and how scared she was.
All she wanted at that moment was to rap things up and leave.
But now, she remembered his strong jawline and a small nose, with full lips that curved into a warm smile. His icy blue eyes sparkled with kindness and intelligence, and his thick black hair was perfectly messy. His skin was a smooth, olive tone, and his features were chiseled and sharp. He stood tall, with broad shoulders and a lean physique, exuding confidence and grace. His smile could light up a room, and his eyes seemed to see right through to the soul. No literally, for him to be able to read a body language.
As she remembered, she found herself Blushing and she shook her head.
'What am I thinking?' she shook her head.
Jiya's squeal snapped her back to reality.
"Jiya, stop squealing!" She was already having a headache, thinking about today and now her friend squeals.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Just fangirling"
"Silly. Anyways i have to hang up now. Need to finish this investment assignment" Meera stated
"Okay, see you tomorrow " and the call ended. She got up and connected her phone to its charger right after sleeping her phone.
"Ah, it's going to be a long month" She sat down on the chair to finish up her assignment.
"Hehe! Oh, you have no idea, di" The younger chuckled while still reading her novel and Meera sighed.